Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, September 20, 2008

Judge Dean Rucker, board president, thanked all adult volunteers and teen attorneys for their generous donation of time and expertise during the past year.

Rucker presented this year's special honorees. William B. "Bill" Kent, former board of directors member, was responsible for raising approximately ,75,000 for scholarships awarded to graduating senior volunteers during his tenure on the board. Zulaikha Boodhwani, a youth volunteer from February 2002 through August 2008, served more than 300 hours as a volunteer juror, teen attorney, senior teen attorney and student representative to the board of directors.

Midland Teen Court is an alternative system of justice and educational opportunity that uses youth participation to offer young offenders an opportunity to accept responsibility for and make restitution for their offenses. Successful completion results in dismissal of the citation for a Class C misdemeanor, keeping that offense off the youth's record and saving the cost of a fine.

"SeptemberFest could not be the great success that it is, year after year, without our dedicated volunteers," said Cathy Burgess, Museum of the Southwest staff liaison for SeptemberFest.

"We had 75 artists on the grounds and wonderful attendance again this year, and we had lots of volunteers who made the 39th SeptemberFest a success."

Karmen Bryant and Shawnna Boren were the co-chairs for the event. They were helped by help last year's chairs, Melissa Eastham and Janell Hanlon. BeckyYarborough served as the artists' contact and organized entries. Shana Price worked on artist hospitality, along with Michele Harmon and Nancy Isaacs.

Admissions were handled by Mark Roberts and Cecily Shull. John Eberly created the event map again this year, and Cherl Prince provided the numerous signs and badges for SeptemberFest. Jeanne Robinson supervised beverages and Jill Meador scheduled the community stage. Renee Clair arranged the grounds catering for the preview party, and Shawn Ellison took care of permits.

Carol Kullman and Danny Holeva decorated and staged the silent auction during the preveiw party, which made a record profit for the museum.

Attendance for Septemberfest this year totaled 6, 041 - 800 at the preview party on Sept. 5, 3,712 on Sept. 6 and 1,529 on Sept. 7.

ConocoPhillips is building a new house with Midland Habitat for Humanity in the 300 block of South Calhoon Street..

"ConocoPhillips is carrying on the tradition started by Burlington Resources, with this being their 11th home built and sponsored for Midland Habitat," said Ralph Castille, Habitat volunteer with ConocoPhillips. "Management allows their employees to spend a day 'away from the office,' and work on the Habitat site. This is an excellent way to provide team building within the organization, and also support the community we live in. Some employees have worked on all 11 houses for the past 11 years. By the end of the week, we will have this new home to the 'dried in' state (roof on)."

Midland Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Alynda Best said the organization is "so grateful for the support provided by ConocoPhillips."

Volunteers are needed to help children with their homework weekday afternoons after school at Casa de Amigos. Homework Help provides assistance to children in grades one through 12. The free service is provided by agency staff and volunteers.

Children may need help with specific subjects such as math or reading or they may need assistance with the day's school work.

Homework Help meets 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the school year. Volunteers help 50 to 60 children daily.

Volunteers also are needed to help with adults who are learning to speak English. There are English Language Development classes weekday mornings and evenings, and General Education Development (GED) classes for students who have not completed their high school diploma.